One trick ponies now riderless

A one trick pony is a person who has one attribute or talent of value, but otherwise has noting to offer. I'm reminded of the one trick pony every time I hear commentary from office holders such as Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (Rep. MN) or failed candidates for high office, Sarah Palin and Sharon Angle. Sadly, their single attribute is destructive rather than constructive; the ability to peddle hate and fear in their campaign rhetoric without any substantive contribution to the national policy debate whatsoever.

Bachmann has bragged about being in enemy territory when serving in Washington, and trumpeted that her constituents seek "revolution" and are "armed and dangerous". Angle, who thankfully lost her Nevada Senate bid, pondered, "I hope we're not getting to a point of Second Amendment remedies", referring to alternatives for stopping the new health care law outside the electoral process. Palin, who incredibly, would have been Vice President had John McCain beaten Barrack Obama in 2008, is possibly the worst. She chirps "Don't retreat, reload". Her website features a map of US Congressional districts with a gun sight identifying progressive Democrats that need to be "taken out". In a monumental display of chutzpah, Palin's spin team now says those gun sights are actually "surveyor symbols".

Possibly the sole benefit we may achieve from the horrific shooting of Congressman Gabrielle Giffords and nineteen others Saturday, is that the media and the electorate may finally begin to call out and shun these purveyors of destructive and hateful rhetoric, wherever and whenever they display their single ticket to fame and fortune. A single real pony has more horse sense than the above mentioned trio and all their fellow hate mongers have put together.

Also published in the Glen Ellyn News, January 12, 2011